Addiction
Solitary me
Habitual tendency
Sadness fermenting
Overwhelming persistence
Surrendering submission
Third Story Writers Guild embraces writing in all its forms. Poetry is a special venue for some members.
Monday, July 29, 2013
the tanka
Tanka is a Japanese form of poetry consisting of five lines in the following pattern: 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 7 syllables. "Addiction" was written by Guild member Linda Rybak..
Monday, July 22, 2013
Writing as therapy. Really.
As a writer I sometimes struggle with my thoughts. Third Story Writers Guild has taught me to get them on paper, even if they are a jumbled mess. After words are written, I can decide what to do with them. I can save, share or delete, possibly even tear or burn.
It's why I love writing poems. The Tanka form is my favorite, because I can be precise with my thoughts to myself, while still being open-ended for interpretation by others. The thesaurus has become a great friend. When I share a poem, readers can use the words to mean what they need them to mean at the time, much like the lyrics of a song.
I love writing for therapeutic measures. I can write about an event or how someone has treated me, giving it a different ending, something you can't do with a genuine conversation.
There are so many aspects of writing I never thought of before joining Third Story Writers Guild. It is great sharing ideas and strategies with the other members. I find this even more therapeutic than putting my thoughts down on paper.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
the challenge of editing
by Anna Maria Hansen
Writing has been like a tickling, annoying mosquito bite this summer. The more I scratch at it, the itchier it become. The harder I try to ignore it, the more it floods my thoughts.
I move restlessly from story to story, dawdling over poetry and submissions of flash-fiction; contest entries and editing. I can't seem to pin myself down to anything for a decent period of time. Is that the nature of the beast?
Yes, writers are very creative and often sporadic in their work, sometimes taking many years to bring a book to conclusion. So, is that what's going on with me?
Personally, I believe the problem with my writing is I don't take it seriously enough. At least not enough to treat it like a real job... with hours, salary and benefits. I don't give myself anywhere near this much slack with my "real" job (where I work as copy-editor and sometimes-reporter); why do I fail to buckle down with my personal writing?
Every November since 2009, I have participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) http://nanowrimo.org/ ... a project that challenges writers to type up a 50,000 word storm... in one month. 50,000 words is the minimum length for a novel and has given many a writer the kick they needed to jumpstart themselves. For three years, I have completed the 50,000 word goal in the 30 days... and rough-drafted three separate novels.
Why then, have I spent two years dithering over the editing process of one book I wrote in 30 days?
For me, I think it's a lack of structure that allows me to ramble my slow unyielding path.
So here it is.
I'm setting my own challenge. Edit my book from page one to the last sentence in one month -- August 2013. It doesn't have to be a perfect edit, it doesn't have to be the final edit. But it will be a complete edit, done in a timely fashion.
I plan to prepare for it in the same way I get myself geared up for NaNo. Put some research into the topic, read a few non-fiction books that pertain to the story, take notes on what I'm looking for and re-outline.
But I will do it.
Writing has been like a tickling, annoying mosquito bite this summer. The more I scratch at it, the itchier it become. The harder I try to ignore it, the more it floods my thoughts.
I move restlessly from story to story, dawdling over poetry and submissions of flash-fiction; contest entries and editing. I can't seem to pin myself down to anything for a decent period of time. Is that the nature of the beast?
Yes, writers are very creative and often sporadic in their work, sometimes taking many years to bring a book to conclusion. So, is that what's going on with me?
Personally, I believe the problem with my writing is I don't take it seriously enough. At least not enough to treat it like a real job... with hours, salary and benefits. I don't give myself anywhere near this much slack with my "real" job (where I work as copy-editor and sometimes-reporter); why do I fail to buckle down with my personal writing?
Every November since 2009, I have participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) http://nanowrimo.org/ ... a project that challenges writers to type up a 50,000 word storm... in one month. 50,000 words is the minimum length for a novel and has given many a writer the kick they needed to jumpstart themselves. For three years, I have completed the 50,000 word goal in the 30 days... and rough-drafted three separate novels.
Why then, have I spent two years dithering over the editing process of one book I wrote in 30 days?
For me, I think it's a lack of structure that allows me to ramble my slow unyielding path.
So here it is.
I'm setting my own challenge. Edit my book from page one to the last sentence in one month -- August 2013. It doesn't have to be a perfect edit, it doesn't have to be the final edit. But it will be a complete edit, done in a timely fashion.
I plan to prepare for it in the same way I get myself geared up for NaNo. Put some research into the topic, read a few non-fiction books that pertain to the story, take notes on what I'm looking for and re-outline.
But I will do it.
Monday, July 8, 2013
the facilitator speaks
by Karen Dums
I have the immense responsibility of over-seeing 14 penswifts. Responsibility? No. More like joy. We are a group of writers, 14 strong, who meet in a big library in a little town. We discuss anything and everything that has to do with writing. Sometimes we actually write. This is our inaugural posting. The rest of the members twisted my arm so I'd write it. Really. I have a bruise. Hope you'll be engaged by what we have to say.
I have the immense responsibility of over-seeing 14 penswifts. Responsibility? No. More like joy. We are a group of writers, 14 strong, who meet in a big library in a little town. We discuss anything and everything that has to do with writing. Sometimes we actually write. This is our inaugural posting. The rest of the members twisted my arm so I'd write it. Really. I have a bruise. Hope you'll be engaged by what we have to say.
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